Can washing, sterlilizing, and drying apparatus



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' O. LARSEN CAN WASHING, `STERILIZING, AND DRYING APPARATUS FledDeo. 22,1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sem ,19m LASEN CAN' WASHING, STERILIZING, ANDDRYING APPARATUS Filed Dec, 22, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www@ Oct. 26 1926.

o. LARsEN CAN WASHING, STERILIZING, AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 22,1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 O. LARSEN CAN WASHING, STERIMZIG, AND DRHNGAPPARATUS Filed Dec. 22. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

UmTaDI STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLAF LARSEN, OF FORT'ATKINSON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CREAMERY:PACK-` lAGL MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGQ' ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

CAN WASHING, STEILIZING, AD DRYING APPARATUS.

Application led December The invention relates toapparatus for cleaningmilk cans and like containers, and

' more particularly to' a self contained mawhich a series of cans may`besuccessively washed, rinsed, sterilized and dried during a revolutionof a rotarycarrier.

Other and more specific objects include: to Vprovide an improvedscreening device which may be readily dismounted for cleaning; toprovide an improved washing jet head construction in which the jetopenings may be readily cleared of accumulations which tend t0 obstructthem; to provide au tomatic means for successively injecting rinsing1Water and av sterilizing steam jet into t e cans; and to provide anefficient compact. arrangement of concentric chambers for the cleansingoperations, the air heating means, and the carrier forthe cans.

Further objects and advantages will be apf parent in the followingdescription of a pre- 'fe'rred embodiment of the invention, which Ihaveillustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood,however, that in the interpretation of the appended claims, they are notto be limited to the precise construction and arrangement set forth,except as may bevnecessitated by the state of the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig.v 1 rep- I- resents a side elevationof themachine selected for illustration herein. yFig. 2 represents -aplan view with the outer cover removed from the upper; part ot themachine. Fig. 3 is a lsectional elevation taken on the plane of the line3 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the body portion of the machine with the turntable and upper parts removed.

Fig. 5 represents a partial vertical section` taken onthe plane of theline 5-5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents a partial vertical section takenon the line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

Fig.- 7 is .a similar section taken on the line 7--7 in Fig. 2.

22, 1921. Serial No. 524,138.

Fig. 8 is a similar section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 4. l

Fig. 9 is a detailed side view of the mechanism operating thesterilizing jet.

"The general organization of. themachine as herein illustrated,comprises A 'a1 tank to contain washing solution and enclosing an airheating chamber, above which is supported a horizontally revolvingskeleton table arranged to carry a number of inverted cans, placed onand removed from the table at one side of the machine. Associated withthe tank are means adapted to accomplish a series of operations upon thecansas they are revolved with the table, comprising torce spraying thecans inside and out with a hot washing solution, injecting a spray ofhot rinsing water, sterilizing by a jetof steam, and further sterilizingand drying the cans by a hot air blast. The operations are com pletedWith one revolution of the table.

While the invention is herein shown as embodied in a machine fortreating containers of the well known type used in the handling of milk.it will be understood that the invention may be applicable to thehandling of other containers of various shapes and sizes.

In the accompanying drawings, a tank preferably annular in'shape, isconstructed with an outer wall 1, a. bottom Wall 2, and

carries at its center a pivotstud 7 upon which revolves the hub 8 of theturn table.

The latter comprises a center portion'defined by an upstanding flange 9,for convenience in the present arrangement being octagonal in shape, andan upwardly inclined outer carrier portion 10. The portion 10 overliesthe tank and is provided with a plurality 'of concentric slots oropenings 11 permitting the passage of solution sprayed from within .Y

the tank, and also allowing the liquid to drain back into the tank.Radial ribs l2 may be provided upon which to restthe inlugs 14. Thebearings of the latter may be lubricated through oil pipes 15 passingout- Wardly of the outer tank wall. A suitable bearing ring 16 formed onthe underside of the turn table operatively bears upon the rollers andsupports the table in revolution.

Outwardly of the bearing ring, a toothed rack ring 17 may be formed fordfiven engagement bya gear 18 fixed onv a radially positioned shaft 19extending outwardly of the tank. The shaft 19 is preferably journaled inone of the bearing lugs 14, formingv also a pivotal support for one ofthe rollers 13, and is the means .by which power is transmitted for therotation of the turn table.

Over the center portion of the turn table preferably is mounted apyramidal cover 20, secured at its base about the flange 9, an-dcarrying at its apex a top plate 21. The annular chamber thus definedpreferably is divided by upright 4radial partitions 22 secured at theiredges to the carrier portion 10 of the table, the cover 20, andv to thetop 21, there being four partitions in the present illustration, formingas many can receiving compartments. The compartment walls, serve tocollect the sprayed liquid. and drain it back into the tank, and also toprevent the Water from splashing from those cans being sprayed upon thecans which have reached the drying hot air blast.

As a further protection against splashing and loss of the solution acovering canopy 23 is mounted over the whole and suitably supported u onthe outer tank wall as at 24. Prefer ly the canopy is provided with anopen flue 25 at its top to permit the escape oi' vapors.4 The canopy islaterally open for a sufficient section, as at 26, to give access to thetable for an operator to place and withdrawthe cans. Slide doors 27 alsomay be provided for access to other portions of the enclosed structure.

Positioned within the enclosed chamber formed bv the inner wall 3 andits closures is a steam coil 28, vhaving its two ends suitably connectedrespectively with each of a pair of passages preferably formed in thestructure of the cover plate 6, as at 29 and 30. By this constructionthe steam coil is entirely supported from the cover plate and may beassembled therewith as a unit. The passage 30 is connected by a pipe 31passing through the outer wall 1 of the tank to a valve A32 controllingthe inlet vof steam through a discharge of steam into the Water. Athermometer 36, having its bulb extending within the tank` may beemployed to indicate the temperature of the solution.

Water for the washing solution in the tank may be admitted through thedischarge pipe l37 entering the tankwall and controlled by a valve 38connected with a water supply line 39. A branch water connection -40controlled by the valve 41, the latter preferably being of theneedle-type for accurate control, passes into the bottom portion of thetankandv around one side of the latter for connection with the rinsingmeans as hereinafter described.

Located laterally of the tank, and mountedon a suitable base 42, are asolution pump 43 and an air blower 44. As illustrated herein, both areof the rotary type and operate upon a common shaft 44a. The latter maybe dri ven by any suitable power means, in the present instance I employa pulley 45 mounted on the shaft between thevblower and the pump andadapted to be belt connected with power shafting.

A standard 46, mounted on the base 4 2 and preferably secured to thetankwall 1, carries a suitably housed wrm and worm gearof conventionaltype represented at 47. Theworm shaft carries a pulley 48 shown hereinas belt connected to a pulley 49 carried by the drive shaft 44a. Theshaft 19 is journaled at its outer end'in the worm gear housing 47 andcarries the worm gear, the shaft being driven thereby to rotate the turntable as previously described,

The pump 43 is arranged with its intake 50 connected, preferably througha fitting 51, with a pipe 52 leading to another fitting 53 secured tothe bottom of the tank and opening thereinto. The fitting 51 may beprovided with removable plugs 54 to facilitate cleaning the connectingpipes. The fitting v53 is also provided with alateral opening oppositethe connection for the pipe 52, the opening lnormally being closed by areadily removable cap 55 secured in place by a screw threaded hand stem56 operatively mounted in a yokev57 pivoted on the opposite sides of thefitting 53. The yoke and stem may be dropped down to clear the openingupon removal of the cap.

Positioned within the pipe 52, there may be employed a tubular screen58, supported at its outer'end by an attached collar 59 removably seatedin the fitting 53 and carrying the pump a handle 60 by which the screenmay be Withdrawn through the lateral opening in the litting forcleaning. The screen preferably tapers toward its inne'r end which issupported by a spacing spider 61.

The opening from the fitting 53 into the bottom of the solution tanklpreferably is cont-rolled by a valve 62 (see Fig. 8) seatedy in theupper end of the fitting and having guide wings 63 extending within thefitting. As shown herein, the valve 62 is operated by a cable 64 woundover a drum 65 mounted on a stub shaft journaled in a bearing support 66secured to the outer Wall of the tank` the outer end of the stub shaftextending out.- wardly of thev tank and having secured thereto anoperating handle 67. A stop 68 may be secured on the tank wall toindicate the closed position of the valve 62. By swinging the handle 67downward from the position illustrated, thel valve 62 is raised andcommunication established from the tank to 43. The advantage'of thevalve is in permitting the closing of the tank outlet for the removaland cleaning of the screen 58 Without drawing off the contents of thetank. When it is desired to empty the tank,

vthe cap may be removed and the valve 62 then opened.

The outlet 69 of the pump 43, is connect-e through a pipe 70,'fitting`71. and a pipe 72 entering the tank wall through a flanged collar 73, toa curved jet head 74. The fitting 7l preferably is provided also withremovablev plugs to facilitate cleaning the connection. The jet head 74is provided along its upper surface with a series of nipples 75positioned beneath the course of the slots 11, in the turn table, anddesigned to spray the cans being carried over the nipples by therevolving table.

Coincident with the spraying from beneath, the cans are laterallysprayed by means of jets discharged from another jet head 76 mounted onthe canopy 23 and re' ceiving washing Huid from the pump through thepipe 77 connected to the fixture 71.v The jet head 76 is provided with aseries of jet openings-7 8 positioned over registering openings in thecanopy wall. Means are also provided for clearing the jet openingswhenclogged, as with grease accumulated in the solution, comprising in -eachcase a plunger 79, of dimensions to closely pass through the jet openingbut normally withdrawn therefrom. The plunger may be manually op? eratedby means of a stem 8O of reduced diameter extending outwardly andslidable through a bushing 81 threaded into a collar 82 projecting fromthe jet head 76 and arranged to form with the bushing a suitable packinggland to prevent escape of the wasliing solution. The outer end of thestern carries la hand knob 83 between which and-the. bushing ispositioned a coiled spring 84 tensioned to hold the plunger 79 normallyout of engagement with the jet opening. Should the jet openings '7 8become clogged with such sediment as may pass the screen, the simplemanual operation of the plungers 79 serves to clear them.

With the tank charged with a supply of washing solution heated to thedesired tem- -perature, the operation of the pump accom-v from the wallsof the canopy and turn table cover back into the tank and is thereavailable for further use. The soil Washed from the cans is carried intothe tank from whence it may be flushed out after completion of the canwashing operations. The circulating solutions is delivered to the jetheads in sufficiently clear condition'for effectively washing the cansby reason of its having been strained through the strainer 58 in thepump inlet connection.

Having passed-through thewashing solution sprays, the cans are nextrinsed and sterilized. The water pipe 40, arranged within the tank aspreviously described, rlses adjacent to the steam coil terminalconnection 29 in the cover plate 6, and-isconnected thereto through thepipe 86 (Figs. 4 and 5). A lateral branch 87, connected into the pipe86, terminates in a cap 88 having a jet orice positioned beneath thecourse of the slots 11 in the turn table, and is designed to dischargeboth waterand steam at 88.

A blow-oftl valve 89, positioned in the pipe 86, controls the flow ofsteam to the branch 87, and a check valve 90 positioned in the risersection of the pipe 40, prevents the back iow of water therein when thesteam valves is opened. The latter is preferably of the plunger type,the spring closed sliding stem 91 of which is positioned to beoperatively engaged lby a lever 92 centrally pivoted on a bracket' 93securedto the inner vwall of the tank. The outer end of the lever 92preferably carries apivoted roller 94 which is arranged for engagementby a series ofcams 95 (Fig. 9) mounted on the underside of the turntable and rotating therewith. The cams 95 are arranged to cause theopening of the steam valve when the cans are successively positionedover the jet cap 88. i

In the operation of the rinsing and steri-l lizinu' jet, the valve 4l,controlling the water supp y to the pipe 40, is soadjusted that betweenthe intervals during which the steam valve 89 is open, there is justsufficient flow of water to fill the branch 87. Then upon engagement ofthe next cam with the valve operating lever, steam is permitted to passthe valve 89. The back pressure in the pipe branch 40 closes the checkvalve 90, and the full steam pressure is applied to the water in the ipewhich is discharged from the termina )et orifice with considerable forceinto the interior of the can then positioned thereover. The jet of wateris followed by thelive steam, thereby subjecting the can to theimmediate successive rinsing water bath arid sterilizing steam jet, thelatter being continued while the mouth of the moving can is in registerwith the jet orifice.

By reason of the position of the pipe l0 at the bottom of the tankimmersed in the hot washing solution, the limited intermittent fiow ofthe water therethrough consumtsufhcient time for it to be heated topractically the same temperature as the solu- .tion before it reachesthe branch" pipe 87.

The latter may be increased in holding capacity by curving its midportion down into the tank to increase its length and permit a greaterquantit the rinsing bath. The steam jet further results in clearing thesteam coils 28 of condensation water and keeping them charged with livesteam for efficient heating.

Succeeding the sterilizing operation, the movin cans are4 next subjectedto a hot air blast or drying them. Thr mechanism for accomplishing thispurpose comprises the blower 44 from which a discharge conduit 96 (Fig.3) leads beneath the tank and terminates in a central aperture 97 in thebase late 4 opening into the chamber enclosed y the inner tank walls 3and containing the steam heating coils 28. At the upper end of thechamber and preferably supported in a pair of laterally extendingcollars 98 formed on the chamber cover plate 6, are a pair of radiallydisposed discharge spouts 99. The latter open into the enclosed heatingchamber and have their open outer ends upwardly directed beneath thecourse of the slots l1 inthe turn table.

With the operation of the blower 44, air is driven through the 'conduit96 and compressed to some degree while being heated to aghightemperature by the steam coil within the heating chamber, andisthereafter discharged under pressure through the spouts 99, the hot airblasts therefrom being directed against the inner and outer surfaces ofthe passing cans and effectively accomplish- `ing their drying. y

As each can carried by the turn table makes a complete revolution of themachine and has been subjected. to the successive cleansing and v dryingoperations, it reap pears before the lateral. opening 26 inl the canopy,andv is thereremoved by an attenda/nt who places'an unwashed can in thecompartment during the continued' revolution of the table.

It will now be apparent that I have provided a very compactly arrangedand ra-pidof hot water to be used forly operable maehine for theeffective and thorough cleansing of milk cans and similar containers. lt,

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising an annular tankadapted to contain washing fluid and having a central enclosed airchamber, steam means for heating air in said chamber, a rotary tableadapted lto Sup ort containers for movement over said tan a series ofspraying devices positioned in said tank adjacent the path of saidcontainersv and adapted to spray fluids thereupon, means for dischargingwashing fluid from certain of said devices, means for discharging freshwater together with the condensation and steam from said steam means forrinsing and sterilizing said containers from another of said devices,and means for discharging the heated air in said chamber from other ofsaid devices.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a rotary table adapted tosupport cans to be cleansed, a pipe terminating adjacent the path ofsaid cans and having a jet orifice to spray rinsing and sterilizingfluids upon said cans, said pipe being connected to a regulated sourceof water supply and having acheck valve positioned therein substantiallyremoved from said jet orifice, a connection positioned intermediately ofsaid jet oriiice and said check valve for admitting steam to said pipe,a valve controlling the passage of steam through said latter connection,and means operable by said table for intermittently opening said steamvalve coincidently with the passage. of said cans over said jet orificewhereby the water in said pipe is forced by steam pressure from saidorifice and followed by a jet of steam therefrom.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a rotary table adapted tosupportcansto be cleansed, a water supply pipe terminating in a jetorifice positioned to discharge a spray upon said cans, a check valve insaid pipe, a steam connection between said check valve. and saidorifice,v a quick operating valve lcontrolling said steam connection, apivoted lever operatively connected to said latter valve, and a seriesof cams on said table adapted to operatively engage said lever andintermittently open said latter valve.

4. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a tank having anannular portion' adapted to contain washing fiuid and having an enclosedcentral air chamber, a rotatably mounted table adapted to supportcontainers for movement over the annularA portion of said tank, meansfor spraying the washing fluid upon said containers, means employingsteam for heating the air in said chamber, means for spraying rinsingfiuid upon said containers, a connection :from said steam heating meansto said rinse spraylcontainers.

5. An apparatus of the class described,`

comprising an annular tank, the inner wall of Said tank enclosing acentral air chamber, heating means in said chamber, a base supportingsaid tank and forming a bottom closure for-said chamber, said basehaving an air inlet, a cover plate removably positioned on saidinner'wall formin a top clo' sureor said chamber, a turn'tab e pivotallysupported on said cover plate, said table `being'ada ted to' receivecans to be washed,

washing evices in said tank operablel upon said cans, and means 'fordischarging heat- .ed air from said chamber upon'said cans.

6. An apparatus of thel class described, com rising a tank adaptedtocontain hot was ing llquid, a rotary table for supportthe spraing'containers in said tank to be cleaned, an air chamber,means forheating the 'air therein for drying the containers, said heating meansemploying a hot Huid under pressure, a ipel in said tank partiallyimmersed in saidhot liquid having connection with a i watersupply, saidipe terminating in a jet adapted to s ray t e containers positionedthereover, a c eck valve in said pipe, a connection from said heatingmeans to said pipe ada ted to deliver the hot pressure fluid to sai pipebetween saidcheck valve and said jet, a valvecontrollin -said latterconnection, and-means opera le by said table for intermittently openingsaid valve to effect ying of said-water and said hot fluid upon saidcontainers.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.' g l- OLAF LARSEN,

